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National College Credit Recommendation Service

Board of Regents  |  University of the State of New York

Camphill Academy | Evaluated Learning Experience

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Organizational Development

Length: 
15 hours (variable - over several weeks); in addition, 12 hours of field observation.
Location: 
Camphill Communities California, Soquel, CA; The Camphill School, Glenmoore, PA; Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, Phoenixville, PA; Camphill Village, USA, Copake, NY; Heartbeet Lifesharing, Hardwick, VT; Plowshare Farm, Greenfield, NH
Dates: 
May 2007 - Present.
Instructional delivery format: 
Traditional classroom model
Mentor-facilitated Independent Study
Workshop Intensive
Learner Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: explain the purposes of organizational structures; describe the stages of organizational development; develop diagnostic tools for assessing organizational health; discuss the management of organizational transformatio; recognize basic social and anti-social forces in organizations and intentional communities; examine the role of social three-folding in the amelioration of anti-social forces; explain the parts of organizations and intentional communities, and their place in a threefold model of social life; discuss the basic phases of organizational growth and transformation; apply these concepts to an analysis of the Camphill community within which this course is taking place.      

Instruction: 

Curative education takes place within the organizational framework of a community, a therapeutic center, or a school. Such anthroposophically based organizations tend to be non-hierarchical, rapidly changing entities. This course allows students to identify the purposes of organizational structures, to identify the stages of organizational development, to understand diagnostic tools for assessing organizational health, and to understand the management of organizational transformation. As a group, students are mentored while completing a community case study, using group work skills to design and compile a community study. In the study, students chart its history according to phases of organizational growth, highlight phases of transition and accompanying phenomena, map the community's structure using one of the three structural images or an image designed by the group, and design a process for managing change in one area of the community life. In addition, students engage in various field observations, including a meeting of a community work group, a festival planning meeting, a leadership group meeting, Board meeting and Board committee meeting. Students also interview a long-term member of the community, designing interview questions around the theme of individual spiritual practices and community building. These experiences are discussed and shared with other students during the final sessions.

Credit recommendation: 

In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 1 semester hour in Curative Education, Social Therapy, Social Agriculture, Inclusive Social Development, Communication Studies, Social Science, Organizational Development, Management Studies, Community Studies, and any discipline that could benefit from such a complementary learning experience (9/07) (10/10 revalidation) (11/15 revalidation) (10/20 revalidation).

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